Emergency flotation gear for aircraft



Nov. 24, 1931. c. E. HATHQRN 1,833,646

EMERGENCY FLOTATION GEAR FOR AIRCRAFT Filed A pril'l6. 1929 2Sheets-Sheet l I I I r ATTOR 5" Nov. 24; 1931; c. E. HATHORN EMERGENCYFLOTATION GEAR FOR AIRCRAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16. 1929 IN VENTOR; mm 5 5. m4 mam I ATTOR Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. HATHORN, OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOCURTISS AERO-I PLANE & MOTOR COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKEMERGENCY FLOTATION GEAR FOR AIRCRAFT Application filed April 16,

My invention relates to aircraft and more particularly to an emergencyflotation gear for aeroplanes of the landplane type.

Many landplanes now in use are called 18' upon to fly for long periodsof time and for long distances over water. This is particularly true inthe operation of fighting and bombing (torpedo) planes as landplanesfrom aeroplane carriers. In the absence of an emergency flotation gearthe time a landplane will remain afloat varies considerably depending onthe size and type of construction, Weather conditions, and the amount ofdamage done on landing. Usually the time is aboutfive minutes, which isentirely inadequate for landplanes operating long distances from theirbase. Obviously, therefore, if the personnel of such aeroplanes are tobe found and rescued, some means of emergency flotation must beprovided.

. Preferably the emergency flotation should equal the gross weight ofthe plane, less fuel and all detachable or droppable load, plustwenty-five percent as the inherent buoyancy of the aeroplane itself isan added reserve favorable to prolonged flotation.

The object of the present invention is to provide an emergency flotationgear for landplanes in which one or more normally deflated bags areprovided, preferably two, disposed, one each, on opposite sides of thefuselage 0; body of the machine; said bags, in an emergency, beingquickly and simultaneously inflatable from a source of gas supply, underpressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide for each said bag asuitable envelope-like container within which said bags are packed whendeflated, each said container having associated with it a manuallycontrolled release means operable to practically simultaneously admit ofthe opening up of the container or containers with the turning on of theinflating gas.

A still further object of the invention is to so form thecontainer orcontainers, and

also the bags, as to provide for the quick detachment thereof when notrequired to be 50 used.

1929. Serial No. 355,452.

Other and further objects of the invention will be hereinafter setforth.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like orcorresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pursuit type aeroplane equipped with theemergency flotation gear, the bags of said gear being shown inflated;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of both the aeroplane and installation ofFig. 4.;

3 is a side elevation showing the afloat position'of the aeroplane afteran emergency landing; a

Fig. 4 is a side elevation (enlarged) of a portion of an aeroplaneshowing the gear installation with the near side inflatable ba collapsedand packed, and

Fig. 5 is a part transverse vertical sectional view of the structure andinstallation indicated in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, a pursuit"type aeroplane of more or less conventional design is shown. Suchaeroplane comprises the usual fuselage or body 10, wings or liftingsurfaces 11-11, landing gear 12, tail unit 13 and power plant.

7 Between the lifting surfaces 111l, and on each side of the fuselage orbody 10 there is provided an emergency flotation bag 14. Normally thebags 14' are packed deflated in suitable elongated envelope-likecontainers 15 provided with end flaps 16 and top and bottom flaps 17 and18, respectively. Each said container has fastened thereto, on the backside thereof, one or more rigid metal strips 19 by means of which it isdetachably fastened and held in place flatwise against and close upagainst the opposite sides of the body.

The strips 19 at their lower end engage in eyefittings 20 and at theiropposite ends have formed therein apertures thru whichlugs 21 extend. Bymeans of said eye-fittings 20 and lugs 21 the containers 15 are held inplace. Cotter or like pins 22 provide the necessary fastening means. i

Along its bottom edge each container 15 I has formed therein an opening23 thru which the means 24 for fastening the bags 14. to the fuselageextend. Said means 24 preferably.

consists of a flexible cable and an appropriate means by which the cableend is anchored to the fuselage frame. To admit of such anchorageopenings 25 are formed in the fuse- 5 lage or body covering. Normallythe contaln ers 15 are held closed with the bags 14 packed therein bymeans of a plurality of lock pins 26 passing thru lugs 27 The lugs 27,in each instance, are fastened to the underflap 18 of the container.Each (see Fig. 4) with the container closed, is let thru an eye 28formed in one or moreof the remaining flaps where it is held by a lockpin 26. As each lock pin 26 is attached to a release cable 29, the totalnumber thereof, when said cable is pulled rearwardly, may be withdrawnfrom locking engagement with the lugs 27. The flaps of the containeronce released, swingopen when and as the bags 14 are inflated.

The means for inflating the bags 14 consists of a tank 30 within which aliquid gas such as CO is contained. Preferably the tank 30 is suspendedbeneath the fuselage or body closely adjacent the bags 14. From saidtank 25 30 a line 31 extends to a point 32 midway between the opposedbags, and from said point 32 branch pipes 33 extended to the respectivebags. Normally the line of communication between said tank and the bags14 is closed by a valve (not shown) controlled thru a release cord 34carried at its opposite end within the fuselage to a point in convenientproximity to the pilots seat. That said release cord 34 and the cable 29may be simultaneously operated, said parts are fastened together asat35.

In operation, and in an emergency, both bags may be simultaneouslyinflated by a rearward pull on the continuation of the rethe center ofbuoyancy of the flotation gear slightly aft the center of gravity of themachine. Thus positioned, the machine upon coming to rest, floats, tailup (see Fig. 3) so lease, cables 29 and 34. Said cables are prefinwithout departing from the spiritorscope thereof. I aim in. the appendedclaims to cover all such modifications and changes.

What I claim is:

1. The combinationwith an aeroplane fuselage, and extending transverselythereof, a lifting surface; of an emergency flotation gear comprisinginflatable bags positioned, one each, close up against and on oppositesides of said fuselage below said lifting surface; a source of gassupply, under pressure,

and by means of which said bags, in an emergency, may be rapidly andsimultaneously inflated, the center of buoyancy of said flotation gear,when inflated, being slightly aft the center of gravity of theaeroplane, as and for the purpose specified. r

2. The combination with an airplane fuselage, and extending transverselythereof, a lifting surface; of an emergency flotation gear comprisinginflatable bags positioned,

one each, close up against and on opposite sides of said fuselage; asource of gas supply, under pressure, and by means of which said bags,in an emergency, may be rapidly and simultaneously inflated; means fordetachably securing said bags to the fuselage; longitudinally elongatedenvelope-like containers within which said bags are normally packeddeflated; a metal strip'fastened-to the back side of each'said containerhaving its ends protruding beyond said container and having one endformed with an aperture; an eye fitting for each strip secured to theside of the fuselage and into which the end of said signature. 7

CHARLES E. HATHORN.

' that the wings orsupporting surfaces will give the necessary buoyancydesired. -Morev over, with the tail up, the machine afloat, 55

ers. Of particular importance, however, is the arrangement admitting ofthe complete removal or quick detachment of both the bags and the bagcontainers when the; emereo. gency gear is not required tobe used.

While I have described my invention in de tail in its present preferredembodiment, it

will be obvious to those skilled-in the art after understanding myinvention, that various 5 changes and modifications may be made theremaybe more readily spotted by the. search-'

